Toward an Interdisciplinary Theory of Consciousness: Methodology, Reductionism, and Mechanistic Analysis 公开

Abstract

Many approaches can be taken with regard to creating a theory of consciousness. A theory of consciousness, in my view, should take into account findings from scientific studies of conscious experience by cognitive science. A theory of consciousness, then, will be a scientific theory. Problems in the philosophy of science regarding the construction of scientific theories are especially relevant to illuminating the way in which a scientific theory of consciousness will be formed. I argue that a theory of consciousness will be constructed with the foundation of mechanistic analysis rather than traditional views of strict reductionism. Since mechanistic analysis emphasizes the importance of multiple levels of analysis, a theory of consciousness will be interdisciplinary. Traditional views of theory construction in science fail to address the criteria needed for interdisciplinary theories as opposed to theories involving one discipline. An interdisciplinary of consciousness will need to incorporate bridge sciences to connect experimental data from the various disciplines involved in consciousness studies.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..……1

Chapter I: Scientific Theories and Reductionism……………………………………………..…..5

Section I: Distinguishing Scientific Theories from Non-Scientific Theories……………..5

Section II: Raising Problems for Reductionism in the Philosophy of Science…………..13

Chapter II: Pitting Reductionism Against Mechanistic Analysis……………………..................19

Section I: Toward a Science of Consciousness………………………………………..…19

Section II: Mechanisms, the Direct Approach, and the Indirect Approach……….……..23

Section III: Implications for Reduction………………………………………….……....27

Section IV: Mechanisms and Phenomenal Experience………………………………….31

Section V: Eliminating Consciousness? ...........................................................................32

Chapter III: Multidisciplinary Theories for Multidisciplinary Sciences…………………..…….35

Section I: The Natural Method……………………………………………………..……35

Section II: A Problem for Interdisciplinary Theories…………………………….……..42

Section III: "Two-Part" Interdisciplinary Theory……………………………….………44

Section IV: Criteria for an Interdisciplinary Theory of Consciousness…………………48

Epilogue: Beyond Philosophy, Neuroscience, and Psychology…………………………………50

References………………………………………………………………………………….…….54

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School	Emory College
Department	Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
Degree	BS
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Philosophy Biology, Neuroscience Psychology, General
关键词	consciousness cognitive science scientific theories
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	McCauley, Robert, Emory University
Committee Members	Rodman, Hillary R, Emory University Patterson, Richard, Emory University

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